February 22, 2007

coaching moves

Now that the Cowboys have hired a special teams coach and a quarterbacks coach, there is one decision left.

Oregon State assistant Bruce Read was hired as special teams coach and Wade Wilson was named quarterbacks coach.

Wilson had one year left on his contract with Chicago.

However, he is from Commerce and enjoyed a stint with the Cowboys as a player and coach. He clearly wanted to come back home and Bears coach Lovie Smith understood as much, which is why he allowed Wilson to interview with Dallas Wednesday.

The Cowboys still must name a defensive coordinator and were hoping to talk to Brian Stewart, but Stewart was retained by the Chargers.

Coach Wade Phillips, who came to Dallas after serving as the Chargers defensive coordinator, has been trying to get Stewart since he took the Cowboys job. The Chargers had been firm in their decision to deny Stewart permission to interview with the Cowboys. The Chargers staff had taken a lot of hits since the end of the season and they didn’t want to lose any more coaches. And this was the case even after the firing of head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

That scenario might expedite a move of Todd Bowles to defensive coordinator.